You are here

Your Guide To The National Parks, 2nd Edition

Author : Michael Joseph Oswald
Published : 2017-01-01

OK, the holidays are over, the new year is a month old, and you're starting to think about which national park to visit this year. One tool that you can turn to to help reach a decision is the 2nd edition of Your Guide to the National Parks by Michael Joseph Oswald.

When the first edition arrived back in 2012, it provided details on the 58 "national parks" that existed at that time. Now with Pinnacles National Monument having been renamed Pinnacles National Park, the 2nd edition understandably covers 59 national parks. Why buy a book that weighs nearly 3 pounds? Because there's no scrolling involved in reading about the parks, you can dog-ear pages, and even jot your own thoughts and ideas in the margins.

Within the book's more than 700 pages, you'll find a social media directory for the 59 parks, a rundown of the author's "Best of the Best," which includes his top 10 parks and top 20 attractions. There are lists of best lodges, best day hikes, and best backpacking adventures. And more lists: best for paddling, best for horseback riding, best for rock climbing, best for stargazing, etc.

Once you get past the lists and the "Did You Know" pages, you reach the meat, which are chapters on each of the 59 parks. Each contains the nuts and bolts -- addresses, when established, activities, campgrounds, entrance fees, transportation means -- and then delves into the park's history and how to enjoy your vacation there. At the end of each chapter, you are presented with a long listing of restaurants, lodging, festivals, nearby attractions, and concessions.

There are even suggested itineraries for visiting each of the parks. And, as with the first edition, No. 2 is rich in maps, charts, and full-color photos (national park eye candy).

The downside, of course, is that pricing might be out-of-date. Publishing takes time, a lot of time, and can't always respond quickly to pricing changes. For instance, the front material notes that the Senior Pass for visitors age 62 and older costs just $10 for a lifetime. But Congress decided late last year to increase that to $80 for a lifetime pass, $20 for an annual pass for seniors.

While it would be nice to see more sidebars about quirky or interesting aspects of parks, this edition already roars past 700 pages. Printed in the USA, this is a handy book of park information, memorabilia, and occasional trivia good to have in your personal national park library.

Comments

I have the first addition and it is my go to book when planning our national park adventure.  Info is accurate and relevant.  Especially like the don't miss highlights


LOVE everything about this book! There's so much useful information, lots of great maps, and plenty of photos to make this guide the only one I need! 


I keep counting the items in the TOC and there are only 58. Did the table of contents not get updated from the prior edition?


OCD, Sequoia/Kings Canyon are two individual parks listed as one unit in the TOC. I think that's where your missing park is.


Add comment

The Essential RVing Guide

The Essential RVing Guide to the National Parks

The National Parks RVing Guide, aka the Essential RVing Guide To The National Parks, is the definitive guide for RVers seeking information on campgrounds in the National Park System where they can park their rigs. It's available for free for both iPhones and Android models.

This app is packed with RVing specific details on more than 250 campgrounds in more than 70 parks.

You'll also find stories about RVing in the parks, some tips if you've just recently turned into an RVer, and some planning suggestions. A bonus that wasn't in the previous eBook or PDF versions of this guide are feeds of Traveler content: you'll find our latest stories as well as our most recent podcasts just a click away.

So whether you have an iPhone or an Android, download this app and start exploring the campgrounds in the National Park System where you can park your rig.